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Monday, 21 March 2011

I had this on the machine from I think Tuesday to Thursday afternoonand I learned that I am not a lover of SID on the diagonal! and some of it had to come out, I dithered over exactly how to quilt in the blue triangles and had intended to leave the bright ones but when all else was done they poofed up so I nailed them down with spaghetti. I need to find another more efficient way to do the piano key quilting in the borders 'cos I spent ages dealing with thread ends.I found hotel quality duvet covers in Dunelm in the sale at half price and used one side as a backing, it is lovely and soft and I will look out for these again, I almost like the back as much as the front.June brought this to group to show and tell. It was made by a friend who did not fall in love with patchwork and does not want it. It was offered to anyone who wanted to quilt it. I snapped it up thinking it would be good practice but not really sure what I would do with it then. It is not really a quilt for a hero nor is it a Linus quilt but I had a thought that I would like to send it to Japan for the appeal.One question to BQL and an English collecting point is discovered, Midsommer Quilting in Bath well done to you I will put in a call later today just to check this information is correct.If anyone else has a top they have been storing for a while and would be happy for me to complete it for you and donate I would love to hear from you, especially if you have backing and batting.They don't yet have the infrastructure to deal with donations but they have put in a date of the beginning of May so no great rush.

I have a little something on the go that must be finnished before this can be loaded so I will go and get on.Till next time Liz

Friday, 11 March 2011

This was started a couple of years ago as a sew along with Amanda Jean http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/ but the quilting left me stumped, not because I didn't know what I wanted, quite the reverse I just could not manhandle it under my domestic machine. I had also made the mistake of using an unidentified chalk to mark and then it would not brush off so my love for it slightly waned. It became my first long arm project and although it is very far from satisfactory it has been good to complete it. I have tested a corner and I think most of the chalk will wash off but I have learned my lesson. It is very difficult to photograph quilting! This shows a bit of the stipple in the cream areas and an open feather border.

This is next up on the machine, after a thread trim and trimming borders session. I am now rethinking how I press seams after sewing a couple of quilts with triangles lately.

I am not sure how to quilt this, I would have feathered the spiral in the solid triangles but the fabric choices don't say feathers to me at all, so I am a bit stumped. I will SID as best I can (much harder I find on the long arm than DM) and hope that something speaks to me soon as I would like to take it to Rocheberrie next Saturday and I have a couple of bag ideas in my head for the challenge but not done yet!

Friday, 4 March 2011

What do you do when you have a great day out at Threads and Patches on Tuesday with lots of lovely ladies and are given a kit for a japanese inspired bag?Well I had mine made by Wednesday before breakfast.We were treated to a day of demonstrations, mini projects and tools and I particularly enjoyed the fabric painting in the afternoon. Drinks on arrival with home made cake lunch was light andthe welcome was warm unfortunately the venue was not and I would go there again but wear more layers. There was of course the shopping, I bought a ruler that had been demonstrated and a bundle of batics for a dalia quilt it has been on my to do list for a while and a charm pack for a project which may or may not come about. I could also have bought a roll of novelty fabrics which would have been great for I spy or linus quilts never mind, next time.I of course used the fabric for the lining on the outside because there is no yellow in the tulip print, I am not a fan of the yellow provided but needed a bit for another project. I put an extra bit of green fabric round the opening because I thought the green was a bit bottom heavy but it has made the opening even more dense with fabric and more difficult to close.It does make a pretty little gift bag and I may have to make more with japanese inspired fabrics.This is what is on the machine at the moment. This was a christmas quilt I made ages ago, part quilted and then put away because I was so frustrated with it. I have just put it on to practice on. I am actually finding it quite difficult to think of different quilt patterns for each of the star blocks. I am not particularly happy with it but hopefully will be able to look back on it and see improvement.

In the other room I am really enjoying putting these blocks together. What I find really interesting is that the naked eye will not see blocks that are too similar together but when viewed as a photograph they jump out at you. Good job I can have some time to rearrange them.

I have had a flitty week, I am unable to settle to anything. I think I need to write a list and prioritise that may help me focus. Some nicer weather may help too.

Snow drops and my forcythia are now in flower so spring is just arround the corner.

About Me

I am a long arm quilter and mother to 2 smashing boys one grown up,married and living abroard and one still at home,step mum to a grown up daughter, wife to a very lovely husband. I have always lived in Rugby in Warwickshire and enjoy all fabric crafts I would like to be better organised, live in a clean and tidy house and be a better cook among countless other things.